I was asked to provide a woodworking project for a fundraiser. So I decided to mix my photography job and woodworking hobby to create a mixed media project for display.  I took a shot of the Alley Springs Mill (Jacks Fork Missouri) late one winter, accentuated the mill over the black and white background and had an 8x12 printed on metal (aluminum).  I then took a piece of scrap live edge walnut and created a background to "frame" the image.  The print is raised of the background by 1.5" using blocking to give it a 3 dimensional look.

This is the live edge piece after cutting for length, jointing the long edges, hand planing the face and back and a base sand with 40 and 80 grit.

A quick test to see how the print looked over the natural wood.  I decided on staining.

I wiped on Minwax walnut stain, then sprayed three coats of semi-gloss polyurethane over the entire piece.  

Epoxied the print to the board and placed on a stand for display.  

I'm extremely pleased with how this turned out.  It allowed me to work with the metal media, and use a piece of live edge to accentuate the print.

Will

 

Super Nice! I agree with the staining.

Wow Will! That turned out awesome, nice colors all around and the mix is absolutely beautiful. You may have hit on something with this combination. Thanks for sharing!

That worked out splendidly Will.  Well done, my friend!

Absolutely Gorgeous!  The wood finished beautifully and the picture on aluminum  turned out wonderfully.  Put together you achieved a stunning result.  

Just an update.  This went for 50.00 at auction.  Pleased wit h the comments at the event as well.  May have to mount more of my work this way.

Great News, Will! Looking forward to seeing more of these.

That is awesome and congratulations on the auction price. I love the look it gave and the staining set it off.

 

Where did you get the print put on the aluminum? Is that something you did or did you have to send it out for that?

Our local camera shop can print on aluminum or canvas.  Opens up a wide variety of paths for my photography.  You can also use MPix (originally Millers Photographyout of Parsons KS, and now with two labs in Pittsburg KS and Columbia MO.) to get the same results.  I'm partial to locally owned, so Wolfes' Photo here in Topeka or MPix gets my business.

As an aside, Millers was the last Kodachrome processor in the United States.  Closed down that business about 10 years ago I believe.

Great job on the sale Will, it's so nice to see money coming in from the shop isn't it?

Good job and congrats on the sale. A thought occurs to me that the rectangle (regular lines) takes away from the composition. Try one with irregular lines on the edges. Think wavy or even jagged.

On 7/19/2015 at 7:11 AM, Ernie Richardson (BAA Bugler) said:

Absolutely Gorgeous!  The wood finished beautifully and the picture on aluminum  turned out wonderfully.  Put together you achieved a stunning result.  

We miss you Ernie.

On 7/18/2015 at 3:52 PM, Will Downing said:

I'm extremely pleased with how this turned out.

 

you should be...most excellent...